Nakago Cut

[ScottF808]

Hey Guys

Being new to nihoto, I see a lot of thing that, I have no clue about. I was looking on eBay, and came across this auction. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 071wt_1032 The nakago is cut at the mekugi-ana. Is this something that was normally done, is there a purpose for this, does it decrease the value (I'm assuming it not a desirable trait).

 

Aloha Scott

[John A Stuart]

It isn't uncommon for a sword to be shortened at the mekugiana. Any alteration to a sword will change the value compared to the value of an absolutely mint ubu sword of equal quality by the particular smith. John

[Marius]

is there a purpose for this

 

Yes, this is called suriage (to shorten) or o-suriage (to greatly shorten) and its the purpose was to reduce the length of a blade. Shortening was always done from the nakago side as the removal of the boshi (tempered point) would render the sword unusable (exception: Satsuma-suriage). An interesting article on suriage is posted in the "Articles" section of this Forum, here is the link to the PDF file: http://www.nihontomessageboard.com/articles/Suriage.pdf

 

In a nutshell shortening was done in these cases (but of course not exclusively):

 

1. When a long sword (e.g. a tachi) was to be converted into a katana

2. When someone wanted to have a wakizashi made from a katana (or naginata)

3. When a sword has developed hagire (crack trough the tempered edge) and was long enough to be shortened

4. When a sword was too long for the new owner

[ScottF808]

Thanks Guys, one more question. All other cut nakago I have seen, have bin cut and re shaped. Why is this cut in such a rough manner?

 

Aloha Scott

[Grey Doffin]

To preserve the signature and old mekugi-ana.

Grey